DETROIT LIONS: Calvin Johnson returns to practice

By
Paula Pasche, The Oakland Press

Thursday, October 10, 2013

ALLEN PARK — Calvin Johnson was back on the practice field today (Thursday). The Lions wide receiver didn’t run routes or participate in skeleton drills in the early portion that was open to the media.

He did go through position drills — ladder and four-square — with fellow wide receivers.

Johnson’s left knee, which he injured in game against the Bears, kept him out of Sunday’s loss at Green Bay.

Coach Jim Schwartz told the Detroit media on Wednesday that Johnson is improving, but the decision whether he will play could be made as last as Sunday at Cleveland.

If Johnson misses the game against the Browns, it will be just the second time in his career that he’s missed two straight games. In 2009 he sat out on Oct. 18 and Nov. 1 — in-between those games was the bye week. He had a knee injury at that time too.

The wide receiver known as Megatron, who is in his seventh NFL season, has missed just five games.

Nate Burleson, who broke his forearm on Sept. 24, was back for the second straight day running position drills using a tennis ball instead of a football.

Louis Delmas (knee) and Chris Houston (hamstring) returned to practice after sitting out on Wednesday.